83 gl1100 carb trouble shooting

[danmercer214]

Hi everyone,
My 83 gl1100 when I try to start it, it wants to flood out. If I use starting fluid in where the air filter is it will start. I did add some seafoam and rec fuel because it wouldn’t idle. It does idle now but is seems to surge. My question is with seafoam and rec fuel if I ride it do you think it might snap into it. It does backfire when you throttle up occasionally. Also do you think if the first method doesn’t work would a good cleaning of the carbs with gasket replacements be enough or should I buy four rebuild kits and which is the best ones? I’ll try and include a video so you can hear it run. Also I’m rebuilding all the brake calipers and master cylinders.Timing belts are also on the todo list. I appreciate all information rendered. The bike has set for quite some time. Thank you in advance.
Dan
Sorry. Couldn’t get the video to come across.

[winguyjo]

the site has been pretty quiet lately but i'll offer what i can ... has this bike been sitting for a long while ? if so, the carbs will need attention (and all old fuel will have to be drained out of the tank). if it runs well enough to be ridden safely i would definitely give that a go before digging in to it. i have had some success by just opening the carbs, cleaning thoroughly and re-using all the old gaskets/seals BUT i have also had some failures. i would avoid aftermarket kits. buy honda oem for carb stuff.

[winguyjo]

oops, just noticed that you said the bike has been sitting for some time. in that case, count on having to remove/disassemble/clean carbs, but it costs you nothing to try to clean them up with a good run.

[danmercer214]

Hi
Yes. The bike runs fairly well. It now idles but back fires occasionally when throttling up. But I think I’ll try and ride it first to see what that does. Unfortunately here in central Michigan it is bitter cold and crappy roads but I agree. Genuine Honda kits. Thanks for the input.
Dan

[newday777]

Hi
Yes. The bike runs fairly well. It now idles but back fires occasionally when throttling up. But I think I’ll try and ride it first to see what that does. Unfortunately here in central Michigan it is bitter cold and crappy roads but I agree. Genuine Honda kits. Thanks for the input.
Dan

Welcome aboard Dan
Yes if it sat more than a year with gas in the carbs and tank you'll need to do a proper cleaning of the carbs and gas tank(remove the float assembly under the seat****drain the tank first!!!).
There are tiny ports in these carbs that will need heated ultrasonic cleaning or a boil in pot to get the old hardened gas out that the Seafoam hasn't gotten out, thus your backfiring. Don't try as many foolishly do revving the motor thinking they can clear out the gummed carbs.....
Yes use only the stock Honda brass parts. Randakks has a great carb master rebuild kit which includes the center special plenum oring, honda doesn't offer it.....


https://www.randakks.com/carburetor-kit ... group.html

[newday777]

BTW clean the brass parts when you clean each carb body in the ultrasonic cleaner or boil cleaning.

[danmercer214]

Hi
I don’t have access to either the ultrasonic cleaner or the boil unit. Can I clean those good enough without the units by hand?
Thank you
Dan

[newday777]

Hi
I don’t have access to either the ultrasonic cleaner or the boil unit. Can I clean those good enough without the units by hand?
Thank you
Dan

Not with spray cleaner no. It doesn't dissolve the hardened old gas in the tiny ports.
You can get a gallon can of carb soak at an auto parts store and soak each individual carb (fully stripped of all internal parts and orings) for @24 hrs followed by spray cleaner.
Randakks has a good carb instruction book and video.

[winguyjo]

you can just boil them in a pot of water. if this is not going to be appreciated indoors, you could do it outdoors on a barbeque. compressed air helps to do a final clearing of the tiny brass jet passages, after you have soaked or boiled.

[danmercer214]

Hi,
That sounds like a good solution for me. Boil it in water. Thx for the tip. Greatly appreciated.
Dan.

[newday777]

Hi,
That sounds like a good solution for me. Boil it in water. Thx for the tip. Greatly appreciated.
Dan.

How to boil them....
https://www.randakksblog.com/old-school ... g-methods/

[billyer60]

The owner of Sea Foam talked to me a few years ago at a car parts conference about using SeaFoam to clean carbs like this. He said to submerge the complete carb in SeaFoam for a couple of days. He also said if you could use a crockpot or other low heat pot, the heat would dissolve all the gunk overnight and clean it like new without having to take them apart. He also said that using SeaFoam in this manner would also bring old gaskets back to life.

I forgot to put stabilizer in my GL1100 last fall, so I may be trying this method my self in just a few weeks.

[Wrenchturner383]

I just completed installing the Randakks kit in my 1983 Aspencade. I bought the kit with the full color instruction book and followed the instructions to the letter. The accelerator pump ports were all completely clogged. The author suggests using a single strand from a wire brush and clamp it in a hemostat (forceps). I didn't have the hemostat, so I stuck the wire into a pencil eraser, used the pencil to guide the wire and that worked for me. Working from the opposite side of the carburetor, jam that wire in the port hole until you feel it enter the hole. I then used a farm syringe to suck from the port by pulling back on the plunger. Then I filled the syringe with water and injected the water into the port leading to the accel pump port. All of the accel pump ports now are clear. When I re-installed the carbs, the motor started right up and took only minor adjustment between the carbs (less than 1/2 turn of 2 screws.) I also used the Randakks kit on a 1980 GL1100. I would not use any other kit.